Stackable multiple support arm for electronic devices

ABSTRACT

A mounting apparatus includes a plurality of arm mounts which are rotationally coupled in a vertical column in end to end relationship to provide a nested arrangement thereof. A support arm is attached to each of the arm mounts to which an electronic device is attached. The arm mounts are secured in nested arrangement between a pair of mounting plates which engage the ends of an elongated shield at least partially surrounding the arm mounts.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/418,233, filed Apr. 17, 2003 which claims the benefit of ProvisionalApplication No. 60/377,049, filed on May 1, 2002, entitled “StackableMultiple Support Arm for Electronic Devices”, the disclosures of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates in general to a modular mounting systemfor stacking a plurality of adjustable mounting or support arms in avertical column for supporting an electronic device.

Various electronic devices such as LCD flat screen displays, CRTdisplays, computer keyboards, laptop computers, plasma displays and thelike are used in a variety of residential, commercial and industrialapplications. By way of example, an LCD display is often coupled to acomputer or server for displaying information such as text and/orgraphic images. There are a number of applications where it is desirableto mount two or more flat screen displays or other electronic devices inclose proximity to each other for viewing or use by the user.

To this end, there is known an assembly which includes a vertical polewhich is adapted to be secured to a supporting surface. One or moreextension arms can be coupled to the pole at various spaced apartlocations along the poles' vertical longitudinal axis. The free end ofthe extension arms can support a tilter assembly to which a flat screendisplay is attached. The number of extension arms and correspondingelectronic devices to be attached thereto is limited by the length ofthe support pole. However, where a longer support pole is provided, itmay not always be needed thereby becoming an unnecessary obstruction.

There is therefore an unsolved need for a mounting assembly which ismodular in design for accommodating a plurality of electronic devices tobe supported thereby.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification.The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation,together with features, objects, and advantages thereof may best beunderstood by reference to the following detailed description when readwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective unassembled view of the components ofthe mounting apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a further exploded unassembled perspective view of themounting apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an arm mount;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the arm mount taken along line 4-4in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective assembled view of a mounting apparatus having aplurality of extension arms attached thereto; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective assembled view of a mounting apparatus having aplurality of forearm extensions attached thereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there isdisclosed a mounting apparatus for supporting a plurality of electronicdevices, the apparatus comprising a plurality of arm mounts rotationallynested together in an end-to-end collinear alignment; securing means forsecuring the plurality of arm mounts in nested arrangement; and supportmeans coupled to each of the arm mounts for supporting an electronicdevice.

In the mounting apparatus, each of the arm mounts includes a body havinga first end and a second end, the first end having a bore therein andthe second end having a rod extending therefrom, the rod received withinthe bore of an underlying adjacent arm mount.

The securing means includes a top mounting plate having a first bossextending therefrom and a bottom mounting plate having a second bossextending therefrom, wherein the top mounting plate is positionedoverlying the top most arm mounting plate in the nested arrangementthereof and the bottom mounting plate is positioned underlying thebottom most arm mount in the nested arrangement thereof, the first bossreceived within the bore of an underlying adjacent arm mount and thesecond boss having a bore therein receiving the rod of an overlyingadjacent arm mount.

The securing means further includes an elongated shield at leastpartially surrounding the nested arrangement of the arm mounts, theshield having one end engaged by the top mounting plate and its otherend engaged by the bottom mounting plate. The securing means stillfurther includes a pair of rods having one end attached to the bottommounting plate and its other end attached to the top mounting plate, andoptionally, the shield includes a pair of spaced apart tubes throughwhich the rods extend between the top and bottom mounting plates.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there isdisclosed a mounting apparatus for supporting a plurality of electronicdevices, the apparatus comprising top and bottom vertically spaced apartmounting plates; a plurality of arm mounts rotationally nested togetherin collinear alignment between the top and bottom mounting plates; ashield at least partially surrounding the arm mounts, the shield havingone end engaged by the top mount and the other end engaged by the bottommount; and a plurality of support arms having one end thereof coupled toa perspective one of the arm mounts and the other end thereof adaptedfor supporting an electronic device.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there isdisclosed a mounting apparatus for vertically supporting a plurality ofelectronic devices, the apparatus comprising a plurality of arm mountsrotationally nested together in an end-to-end collinear alignment, eachof the arm mounts comprises a body having a first end and a second end,the first end having a bore therein and the second end having a rodextending therefrom, the rod received within the bore of an underlyingadjacent arm mount, and a mounting bracket attached to the body of eachof the arm mounts adapted for attachment of the support arm thereto.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there isdisclosed a mounting apparatus for supporting a plurality of electronicdevices in a vertical stack, the apparatus comprising a top mountingplating having a downwardly depending hollow boss; a bottom mountingplate vertically spaced from the top mounting plate having an upwardlydepending boss; a plurality of arm mounts vertically nested in collinearalignment between the top and bottom mounting plate forming a nestedcolumn thereof, each the arm mount including a hollow body and adownwardly depending rod, the rod having a notch extending therethroughin communication with an opening extending through an adjacent portionof the body of the arm mount, the notch and the opening adapted topermit passage of a cable therethrough extending from an electronicdevice mounted to the apparatus, wherein a plurality of the arm mountsare rotationally nested with respect to each other by the rod of one armmount being received with the hollow body of an underlying arm mount,the rod of a first one of the arm mounts in the nested column beingrotationally received within the hollow boss of the bottom mountingplate and the boss of the top mounting plate rotationally being receivedwith the hollow body of a last one of the arm mounts in the nestedcolumn; a shield extending between the top and bottom mounting plates atleast partially surrounding the plurality of arm mounts with the nestedcolumn; and a plurality of rods extending between the top and bottommounting plates for securing the mounting plates, the shield and theplurality of arm mounts in assembled relationship; and a plurality ofsupport arms having one end thereof coupled to a respective one of thearm mounts and another end adapted for supporting the electronic device.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there isdisclosed a method of making a mounting apparatus for supporting aplurality of electronic devices, the method comprising nesting aplurality of arm mounts in end-to-end rotational relationship, securingthe plurality of arm mounts in a nested vertical column, and attaching asupporting arm to each of the arm mounts for attaching an electronicdevice at one end thereof.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there isdisclosed a method of making a mounting apparatus for supporting aplurality of electronic devices, the method comprising providing aplurality of arm mounts, each of the arm mounts include a body having afirst end and a second end, the first end having a bore therein and thesecond end having a rod extending therefrom, nesting the arm mountstogether in end-to-end relationship by inserting a rod from one armmount into the bore of an underlying adjacent arm mount, securing thenested arm mounts together in a vertical column, and attaching a supportarm to each of the arm mounts for attaching an electronic devicethereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In describing the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated inthe drawings, specific terminology will be used for the sake of clarity.However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specificterms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific termincludes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner toaccomplish a similar purpose.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals representlike elements, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 a system in the nature ofa mounting apparatus for supporting a plurality of electronic devices,and generally designated by reference 104.

As best shown in FIG. 5, there is disclosed a plurality of securingmeans in the nature of support arm assemblies generally designated byreference 100 which are attached to the mounting apparatus 104. Suitablearm assemblies 100 for the purposes of the present invention aredisclosed in Applicant's U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,478,274 and 6,409,134, thedisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Each arm isadapted to support an electronic device such as a liquid crystal displaymonitor, notebook computer, CRT display, and the like. Each of the armassemblies 100 are generally adapted for concealing the electroniccables which are attached to the electronic device. The electronicdevice (not shown) can be attached to a tilter assembly 102 such asdisclosed in Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,988, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference. The tilter assembly 102allows manipulation of the orientation of the electronic device which isattached thereto.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, the mounting apparatus of the presentinvention which has been generally designated by reference 104 includesa top and bottom mounting plate 106, 108, an elongated shield 110,optionally a pair of elongated hollow tubes 112 and a pair of elongatedthreaded rods 114 or the like. The top and bottom mounting plates 106,108 include a base 116 from which there centrally extends from onesurface a boss 118. The boss 118 of the bottom mounting plate 108 isprovided with a bore 210.

The shield 110 is constructed as an elongated C-shaped member having apredetermined radial extent defined between lateral edges 120, 122. Theoptional tubes 112 are hollow and extend longitudinally adjacent arespective edge 120, 122. In the preferred embodiment, the tubes 112 arebonded, integrally formed therewith or otherwise secured to the shield110. The threaded rods 114 may be threaded over their entire length, oronly at their opposing ends.

The mounting apparatus 104 includes one or more modular arm mounts 124.Each of the arm mounts 124 includes a partially hollow tubular body 126having a bore 212 at one end thereof and from which there centrallyextends from the other end thereof a rod 128 having a longitudinallyextending through-notch 130. The notch 130 communicates with athrough-hole 132 formed within an adjacent portion of the body 126. Amounting bracket 134 is attached to the side of the body 126 generallyadjacent the hole 132.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, the mounting apparatus 104 is assembledby first securing the bottom mounting plate 108 to a supporting surface136 by any suitable means such as a bolt, screw or the like. As shown, abolt may be positioned extending through the boss 118. The pair ofthreaded rods 114 are threadedly received into threaded openings 138within the base 116 of the bottom mounting plate 108. With the threadedrods 114 extending upwardly, the shield 110 is mounted thereto byreceiving the threaded rods within the tubes 112.

A first arm mount 124 is rotationally coupled to the bottom mountingplate 108 by its rod 128 being received within the bore 210 of the boss118. A second arm mount 124 is rotationally coupled to the underlyingarm mount in a similar manner. In this regard, the rod 128 of anadjacent upper arm mount 124 is received within the bore 212 within thebody 126 of an underlying arm mount. In this manner, a plurality of armmounts 124 may be stacked in a vertical column, one upon the other, in anested arrangement. Each of the arm mounts 124 may be rotated withrespect to an adjacent arm mount by virtue of its extending rod 128.

The top mounting plate 106 is secured to the uppermost arm mount 124 byits boss 118 being received within bore 212 of the underlying adjacentarm mount. The ends of the threaded rods 114 extend through or intoopenings 140 within the base 116 of the top mounting plate 106. The rodsare secured to the top mounting plate 106 by means of a pair of nuts 142which may be received within the openings 140.

In the alternative, the threaded rods 114 may be eliminated and replacedby screws or bolts (not shown). In this regard, the shield may besecured to the top and bottom mounting plates 106, 108 using theaforementioned fasteners which can be threadingly received within athreaded opening provided within the ends of the shield 110.

Pursuant to this arrangement, the arm mounts 124 are maintained underrestraint in a vertical colinear stack between the top and bottommounting plates 106, 108 by means of the threaded rods 114 and shield110.

As shown in FIG. 5, the arm assembly 100 is in the nature of anextension arm as disclosed in the aforementioned patents. Briefly, eacharm assembly 100 includes a pair of nested elongated channel members200, 202 having one end pivotably coupled to a mounting bracket 134. Theother end of the channel members 200, 202 are pivotably coupled to anend cap 204. A forearm extension 206 has one end pivotably coupled tothe end cap 204, its other end supporting a tilter assembly 102. Theelectronic device (not shown) such as a flat screen display is coupledto the tilter assembly 102 via a mounting plate 208.

An arm assembly 100 is pivotally attached at one end of the channelmembers 200, 202 to a corresponding mounting bracket 134 using pins,screws and the like as is known from the aforementioned incorporatedpatents. A cable 144 from an electronic device being received from oneof the arm assemblies 100 passes through the hole 132 within the armmount 124. The hole 132 is in communication with its associated notch130 which allows the cable to pass therethrough into the hole. In thismanner, cables 144 may extend downwardly through the mounting apparatus104 in the space generally defined between the shield 110 and spacedapart tubes 112. The cables 144 may exit centrally from an opening(214), such as provided along the bottom edge of the shield 110.Accordingly, it is to be understood that the shield 110 is adapted tohide the cables 144, as well as providing a structural backbone for themounting apparatus 104.

The arm assemblies 100 can rotate by means of the arm mounts 124. Theextent of rotation will be limited by engagement with the opposing edges120, 122 of the shield 110. These edges may be formed with rubberbumpers or polymer strips, if so desired, thereby acting as resilientstops. It should therefore be appreciated that one or more arm mounts124 may be assembled in co-linear alignment in accordance with thepresent invention. Accordingly, any number of arm mounts 124 may bestacked one on top of the other pursuant to the present invention forsupporting an electronic device via an attached arm assembly 100.

Referring to FIGS. 6, there is disclosed another embodiment of an armassembly adapted for supporting an electronic device by means of themounting apparatus 104. In this regard, the end cap 204 may be coupleddirectly to the mounting bracket 134 using suitable pins. A forearmextension 206, or other suitable member, may be rotatably coupled to theend cap 204. As previously described, an electronic device can becoupled to the forearm extension 206 by means of a tilter assembly 102.It is also contemplated that the forearm extension 206 may beeliminated, with the tilter assembly 102 being coupled directly to theend cap 204. It can therefore be appreciated that other structuralelements may be used for coupling an electronic device to the mountingbracket 134.

Although the invention herein has been described with reference toparticular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodimentsare merely illustrative of the principles and applications of thepresent invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerousmodifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that otherarrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention.

1. A mounting apparatus for vertically supporting a plurality ofelectronic devices, said apparatus comprising a plurality of arm mountsrotationally nested into each other in end-to-end collinear alignment,each of said arm mounts comprising a body having a first end and asecond end, said first end having a bore therein and said second endhaving a rod extending therefrom, said rod received within the bore ofan underlying adjacent arm mount, and a mounting bracket attached tosaid body of each of said arm mounts adapted for attachment of a supportarm thereto.
 2. The mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bodyincludes an opening extending therethrough adjacent said second end. 3.The mounting apparatus of claim 2, wherein said rod includes a notchextending therethrough in communication with said opening.